2016 Iowa Caucus Rolling Updates

Tonight marks the first major electoral event of the 2016 presidential cycle: the Iowa caucuses. Keep checking back for updates as the ABC News political team reports from the Hawkeye State on caucus night.

ABC's JORDYN PHELPS: “He spent I don't know 20 plus million dollars here … and he's at 2% in the last poll,” Christie said of Bush. "If we in fact beat him here and we've literally spent half a million dollars.”

Still, Christie said he has “no idea” what’s actually going to actually happen tonight and pointed out that there are two former Iowa caucus winners still in the race who are getting very little attention.

"We will all see what's going to happen. That's part of the problem with twelve people in the race,” he said. “You've got two guys in this race that no one is talking about who won the last two Iowa Caucuses. Nobody has been talking about them.”

But Christie’s not sticking around to see what does happen in Iowa tonight. Instead, he’ll be onto his second town hall in New Hampshire tonight at the time that the caucuses are underway here in Iowa.

"I leave this afternoon, I go to New Hampshire and do a 4:30 town hall meeting in Hopkinson and then I'm going to do one at 8:00 in Nashua. It's going to be fun,” Christie said.

Christie told Karl part of the reason he’s leaving today is because of the weather.

"I wanna win Iowa. It’s gonna send such a great message that we’re not gonna take it anymore…I love you all. Make sure you caucus tonight. Make sure you all caucus tonight. We’re gonna have a tremendous victory."

Sarah Palin gave a rambling speech introducing Trump asking the crowd: “Iowa, are you ready to make America great again?” Trump’s wife, Melania called it a “special night…the man who will work for you, with you, and who is that man?,” she asked the crowd who shouted back “Trump”. “I agree he’s the man – good luck!”

ABC NewsABC News' Josh Haskell visits Bettendorf, Iowa to get a taste of politics and great food.

by Veronica.Stracqualursi2/1/2016 10:00:00 PM

The top searched Republican candidate for "how to caucus for..." is Sen. Ted Cruz and the top searched Democratic candidate for "how to caucus for..." is Hillary Clinton. However, the top searched Republican candidate on Google is Donald Trump and the top searched Democratic candidate is Bernie Sanders.

ABC's MERIDITH MCGRAW: It was the scream heard around the world—or at least on television sets across the country. Twelve years ago, Howard Dean, the Democratic front runner, finished in a disappointing third place at the Iowa caucuses. At a packed ballroom in Des Moines following the caucus, Dean passionately addressed his supporters and listed off the places he hoped his campaign would win next.

“And then we’re going to Washington D.C., to take back the White House! YEEAAHHHH!” With cable network cameras focused on Dean, the emotional crescendo of his speech was broadcast everywhere. Dean’s scream became one of the biggest political gaffes of the 2004 election.

ABC's MARYALICE PARKS: Besides his brief stop at his office his campaign tells me the Senator was working in his hotel room on remarks, met with campaign team, went to Perkins for blueberry pancakes, spent time with kids who are here, and did a couple interviews. He also went on a walk with his wife Jane.

ABC's ALANA ABRAMSON: The first voting of the 2016 presidential election cycle happens tonight. A useful tidbit to keep in mind: although candidates have been traipsing across the Hawkeye State for months, Iowa is not mathematically crucial for winning the nomination.

To win their party's respective nomination, candidates must win a certain number of delegates, or people who will ultimately vote for them at their party's convention in the summer. (Republicans need 1,237 delegates, while Democrats need 2,382.) Technically, a candidate could fare terribly in Iowa and still have a chance of getting the delegate numbers by the end of the race.

ABC’S PAOLA CHAVEZ: While campaigning in the Hawkeye State, a Trump supporter held up his baby for the GOP front-runner to see. Coincidentally, the baby was photographed next to another supporters’ Donald Trump sign.

This isn’t the first time babies are used to snag a presidential candidate's’ attention. Back in October the hashtag “Babies for Bernie” went viral after a Bernie Sanders supporter photoshopped hair and glasses on her baby.

ABC's JEFF NAFT: Tonight, Democrats and Republicans will hold their breath across the country as Iowans take part in the first-in-the nation caucuses.

Throughout the Hawkeye state, caucuses will be held in elementary schools, churches, a gun store, a grain elevator and even in homes.

Five homes will host a caucus -- three for Democrats and two for Republicans. One of them -- for the Dems -- will be at the Rippey, Iowa home of Gary and Mary Weaver.

Mary Weaver, 71, and Gary Weaver, 72, are farmers who live three miles from Rippey on a 1,000-acre plot. Democrats who "believe in democratic principles," they will be hosting their fourth presidential caucus.

“We are very rural,” she added. “Our neighbors would need to drive 20 to 25 miles to the nearest caucus site.”

There are about 120 registered voters who will be able to come by the Weaver home tonight and they expect about 80. http://abcn.ws/20CyBTh

by Veronica.Stracqualursi2/1/2016 11:45:00 PM

"We need someone with a steady hand and a backbone." An amped Bush going after Obama, Trump, Clinton, and those atop the Iowa polls.

In the Des Moines Register/Bloomberg poll, Rick Santorum polled at 2 percent of support. The former Pennsylvania senator, who won the Iowa caucuses back in 2012, is hoping his heavy campaigning in Iowa works to his benefit.

ABC's ANDREA GONZALES and VERONICA STRACQUALURSI: Voting is now underway in the Iowa caucuses andvoters have gathered in different locations all over the state.The most-updated number show 586,835 registered Democrats and 615,763 registered Republicans.

Meggie Gates is caucusing for Bernie Sanders at the Iowa City Public Library. Gates told ABC News she thinks the attendance is larger than 2008, there are people pouring out in the hallway, and there's a mile long line.